Charla Bearhttp://kplu.org
enWhy is Seattle such a white city?http://kplu.org/post/why-seattle-such-white-city
<p>Seattleites don’t like to admit it, but this is a pretty white city.</p><p>In fact, the latest census figures show it’s the fifth whitest of the 50 biggest cities in the country. That means there’s a higher proportion of Caucasian people here than in Denver, Oklahoma City, or even Minneapolis.</p><p>So why are there so few people of color in Seattle?</p><p><a href="http://www.kpluwonders.org/content/why-seattle-such-white-city">Read more on <em>I Wonder Why ... ?</em></a>Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000Charla Bear5435 at http://kplu.orgWhy is Seattle such a white city?Why are we such gear freaks in the NW?http://kplu.org/post/why-are-we-such-gear-freaks-nw
<p>In the Pacific Northwest, we know that yoga pants, polar fleece and hiking shoes are great for grocery shopping. But when we head into the great outdoors, we love to pile on the high-tech gear.</p><p>Sure, the weather here demands a certain level of protection from the elements. But what is it that compels people in the Pacific Northwest to want every piece of equipment out there?</p><p><strong><a href="http://kpluwonders.org/content/why-are-we-such-gear-freaks-nw">Read more on I Wonder Why ... ?</a></strong></p>Fri, 08 Jun 2012 13:00:00 +0000Charla Bear5226 at http://kplu.orgWhy are we such gear freaks in the NW?What's with all of the totem poles in Washington?http://kplu.org/post/whats-all-totem-poles-washington
<p>With all the totem poles in Washington State, it might surprise you to know the cedar monument isn’t from this region.</p><p>Though some local tribes now carve them, they didn’t originally.</p><p>In fact, the first one here was pilfered from another state.</p><p><a href="http://www.kpluwonders.org/content/whats-all-totem-poles-washington"><strong>Read More on <em>I Wonder Why ... ?</em></strong></a>Fri, 18 May 2012 11:45:00 +0000Charla Bear5036 at http://kplu.orgWhat's with all of the totem poles in Washington?Did Jesus Christ make Seattle under protest?http://kplu.org/post/did-jesus-christ-make-seattle-under-protest
<p>You might say Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Protest. Or, Jesus Christ Made Seattle Under Pressure.</p><p>Either way, this provocative statement is a big help when you’re trying to get around downtown Seattle.</p><p>It's a mnemonic device, a sentence that helps you remember the names and order of the city’s streets. The first letter of each word corresponds to a pair of streets between Pioneer Square and Belltown. Jesus starts with a "J" which means Jefferson and James come first. The "C" in Christ signals that Cherry and Columbia are next, and so on.</p><p>You might've already known that, but do you have any idea where the memory trick came from? Or, why it remains so popular?</p><p><strong><a href="http://kpluwonders.org/content/jesus-christ-made-seattle-under-protest">Read more on I Wonder Why ...?</a></strong></p><p>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:00:00 +0000Charla Bear4863 at http://kplu.orgDid Jesus Christ make Seattle under protest?Why do Utilikilts appeal to many in the Northwest?http://kplu.org/post/why-do-utilikilts-appeal-many-northwest
<p><em>&quot;It&rsquo;s only a skirt if you&rsquo;re wearing underwear.</em>&quot;</p><p>A Seattle guy set out to liberate men from their pants &ndash; his solution?</p><p>The Utilikilt.</p><p>If you&rsquo;ve ever seen a Utilikilt, chances are you haven&rsquo;t forgotten it. &nbsp;Maybe you thought it was cool to see a Scottish-esque kilt with cargo pockets. Maybe you had a more visceral reaction ...</p><p>Whatever your feelings about them, they are part of the Northwest. The idea was born here. They&rsquo;re manufactured here. They even have their own store in Seattle&rsquo;s Pioneer Square Neighborhood. Why, then, are they so polarizing in their own hometown?</p><p><strong><a href="http://kpluwonders.org/content/why-do-utilikilts-appeal-many-nw">Read more on I Wonder Why ... ?</a></strong></p><p>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:08:18 +0000Charla Bear3946 at http://kplu.orgWhy do Utilikilts appeal to many in the Northwest?Aberdeen paying $100,000 to bullied studenthttp://kplu.org/post/aberdeen-paying-100000-bullied-student
<p>An African-American man who was bullied when he was a student in Aberdeen has won a major settlement from the school district. Russell Dickerson III sued the district in federal court for not stopping his classmates from harassing him throughout junior high and high school.&nbsp;</p><p>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:37:17 +0000Charla Bear3934 at http://kplu.orgAberdeen paying $100,000 to bullied studentMemorial pays tribute to park ranger killed on Mount Rainierhttp://kplu.org/post/memorial-pays-tribute-park-ranger-killed-mount-rainier
<p>Family, fellow law enforcement officers and top government officials paid their respects to National Park Ranger Margaret Anderson at a memorial today. She was fatally shot on Mount Rainier on New Year&rsquo;s Day after putting up a roadblock to stop a man who blew through a mandatory checkpoint.</p>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:34:12 +0000Charla Bear3679 at http://kplu.orgSome 2-year degrees trump bachelor's degrees for jobs, incomehttp://kplu.org/post/some-2-year-degrees-trump-bachelors-degrees-jobs-income
<p>We&#39;ve heard a lot of stories lately about the struggles of young, unemployed people with college degrees. A Washington State agency says the reason for that is a lot of students are choosing the wrong majors for this economy.</p><p>If they spent less time and money on school, they might have an easier time getting a job and make more money, at least in the short term.</p><p>Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:53:15 +0000Charla Bear3655 at http://kplu.orgSome 2-year degrees trump bachelor's degrees for jobs, incomeDogs, once-homeless kids share a love of reading (and each other)http://kplu.org/post/dogs-once-homeless-kids-share-love-reading-and-each-other
<p>Some of Seattle&rsquo;s most at-risk students are getting help with their reading skills, but not from people.</p><p>Once a week, service dogs lend their ears to formerly homeless children as they read aloud. It&rsquo;s become a learning experience for both the kids and canines.</p><p>Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:10:00 +0000Charla Bear3576 at http://kplu.orgDogs, once-homeless kids share a love of reading (and each other)A 'Rain City' mystery: Why don't people in Seattle use umbrellas?http://kplu.org/post/rain-city-mystery-why-dont-people-seattle-use-umbrellas
<p>A lot of people in the &ldquo;Rain City&rdquo; take pride in the fact that &ldquo;real&rdquo; Seattleites don&rsquo;t carry umbrellas. But, I walk around town with a portable roof over my head.&nbsp;</p><p>The result? I stay dry, my hair doesn&rsquo;t get tousled, and I can use my iPhone while I wait for the bus. I also get dirty looks. Granted, my umbrella isn&rsquo;t small. I actually call it my yurt. That might have a little to do with it, but the reality is this region is anti-umbrella.</p><p>Why? Is it weather denial? Affinity for wet jeans? An attachment to rain jackets?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><a href="http://kpluwonders.org/content/why-are-seattleites-anti-umbrella"><strong>Read more on I Wonder Why ... ?</strong></a></p><p>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:20:20 +0000Charla Bear3534 at http://kplu.orgA 'Rain City' mystery: Why don't people in Seattle use umbrellas?Hundreds of high school students ditch school to protest state budget cutshttp://kplu.org/post/hundreds-high-school-students-ditch-school-protest-state-budget-cuts
<p>Hundreds of high school students are rallying at the University of Washington in protest of cuts to education. They walked out of their classrooms this afternoon and marched or rode buses to the University District.&nbsp;</p><p>Students from at least five high schools, including Ingraham and Nathan Hale - and even a few students from Tacoma - have banded together for the protest.&nbsp;</p><p>Wed, 14 Dec 2011 22:01:15 +0000Charla Bear3458 at http://kplu.orgHundreds of high school students ditch school to protest state budget cutsiPads are key to teaching some students, educators sayhttp://kplu.org/post/ipads-are-key-teaching-some-students-educators-say
<p>iPads are probably on a lot of people&rsquo;s wish lists this holiday season, including teachers. Educators say the tablet devices allow them to reach students with learning difficulties in ways they&rsquo;ve never been able to before.&nbsp;</p><p>Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:31:55 +0000Charla Bear3424 at http://kplu.orgiPads are key to teaching some students, educators sayNative Americans lost half of population in European conquest, new research showshttp://kplu.org/post/native-americans-lost-half-population-european-conquest-new-research-shows
<p>A new study is shedding some light on a long-debated question about Native Americans. Just how much smaller was the indigenous population in North and South America after the European conquest?&nbsp;</p><p>Clues can be found in DNA, according to research conducted at the University of Washington and University of Goettingen in Germany.&nbsp;</p><p>Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:19:02 +0000Charla Bear3373 at http://kplu.orgNative Americans lost half of population in European conquest, new research showsYouth violence decreasing in Seattle, new report sayshttp://kplu.org/post/youth-violence-decreasing-seattle-new-report-says
<p>Young people in Seattle are committing fewer violent crimes than they did a couple of years ago &ndash; especially in areas that, historically, have had the most juvenile offenses, according to a new city report.</p><p>The drop could be the result of a citywide effort to combat the problem.</p><p>Tue, 29 Nov 2011 18:19:42 +0000Charla Bear3287 at http://kplu.orgYouth violence decreasing in Seattle, new report saysTeachers across state to protest budget cuts as special session beginshttp://kplu.org/post/teachers-across-state-protest-budget-cuts-special-session-begins
<p>Teachers across the state plan to protest cuts to public schools on the first day of the legislature&rsquo;s special session to shore up the budget.</p><p>Hundreds of educators will rally in Olympia on Monday, Nov. 28. Even more teachers will deliver their concerns virtually.</p><p>Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:10:05 +0000Charla Bear3270 at http://kplu.org